Pentax K100D 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Shake Reduction and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens by Pentax
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Digital camera reviews of Pentax K100D 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Shake Reduction and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens
Digital camera Review: Extraordinary SLR Camera at Great Price!
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the finest Digital SLR Cameras you can buy. The camera strikes a nice balance between features and usability that both the amateur and professional photographer can appreciate.
The big difference between this camera (K110D) and the K100D is that his camera doesn't have shake-reduction.
The lens kit is very nice. Also, Pentax made this camera backward-compatible with it's old lenses, so you can take advantage of many of the high-quality lenses available on eBay at a fraction of the cost. This camera is especially good for the beginning/amateur photographer, and Pentax quality at this price is well worth it. In fact, this is the lowest-price digital SLR out there.
Note: One thing you might want to know is that with virtually every digital SLR camera, you cannot use the LCD screen as a viewfinder like you can with the point-and-shoot cameras. Many people spend weeks trying to figure-out how to use their LCD screen as a viewfinder and its simply not done on SLR cameras because the internal mirror (that makes it a single lens reflex camera) is covering the image sensor (CCD chip) so the LCD can only show the picture once it has been taken. Also, because of this, you cannot shoot movies/mpegs like you can on point-and-shoot. The real advantages of a digital SLR is both the ability to see through the actual lens and the ability to change lenses (neither of which you can do on a point-and-shoot). There are other advantages too (like shooting while zooming to create motion effects, etc.).
Digital camera Review: First DSLR
Summary: 5 Stars
I read many reviews and it came down to 3 choices. Canon XT, Sony D50, and the Pentax K100D. All had their pros and cons, (i.e. battery types, style and look of body, continuous shooting buffer, etc.) The Pentax is the heaviest due to 4 AA's, but battery life is fine with rechargeables and the weight makes it feel like a quality product. Controls could not be better placed and 2.5" LCD is bright.
Manual is one of the easiest to read and the menus are pretty self-explanatory. 6.1 MP is fine for most amateur photographers and there are many lense options. The lense provided is all purpose and I added a 50-300 zoom for sports and nature shots.
Great buy and would recommend to people who want some manual settings and desire to upgrade.
Digital camera Review: First Impressions
Summary: 5 Stars
Other reviewers have covered some of the technical details of the K100D, but I would like to focus on the ease-of-use perspectives. I have owned a Pentax ZX-5n film SLR for a number of years so I have been waiting for the right time to add a digital body.
It was logical for me to stick with Pentax, but it really gets back to the reason I went with Pentax in the first place. Compared to the other major manufacturers, I think Pentx does a much better job designing a camera that does NOT require you to carry a camera manual with you at all times. One of the problems with modern technology is that it offers almost endless choices which can intimidate and bewilder the average user. The imbedded functions on some of the modern digital SLRs are often only accessible through a complex set of menus or user-defined codes.
I trusted Pentax would not design a camera that way, and the K100D is quite usable right out of the box. The default settings are quite robust, and this camera can be used readily as a high-quality point-and-shoot. Most SLR users want more than that from a camera: aperature and shutter priority, ISO settings and a few other things. On the K100D, moving from auto to manual adjustment is straightforward and simple.
Pentax optics are excellent and the picture quality from the K100D is perfect for anyone short of a professional photographer. Overall, this camera has delivered everything I expected and more.
Digital camera Review: Good but not perfect
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this camera after much research. I looked at everyone's reviews including the "professional ones". I am happy with this camera. It takes great pictures. Now, having said that I will tell you about the little bugs, or things that I don't like about the camera.. things others didn't talk about...
First, there are a LOT of automatic settings on this camera. They cover just about any situation that you could want. The problem with this is that there is no control over some of the menu items in these. I would like to take a macro shot of a orange/pink tulip, but it comes out RED because I can't adjust the Saturation, Sharpness, Contrast, or even the Natural/ Vivid color.. So I have to do it manually which is a bit tiresome. So the menus that are NOT avaliable during scene & automatic modes affects the outcome of the photo.
Secondly.. If you shoot in any quality other than RAW, you might as well just throw the included software in the garbage. It only touches up & manipulates RAW images. There is nothing on the disc to help out with jPeg files. That is a waste.
Third... & this is just a minor thing. I usually take landscape photos, & the ISO only goes down to 200. My olympus point & shoot C-765 goes down to an ISO of 64. Who needs ISO of 3200 when the shutter speed gives a range of 30 seconds to 1/4000 of a second. Just seems as though they went too high with the ISO.
Overall I am really happy with my purchase. I just wish that Pentax would have written the software to manipulate the photo while I am taking it so I don't have to sit at my computer all day dinking with it.. & yes, I said DINKING!! It is called digital photography, not computer photography!!! The anti shake seems to work well, & the lens takes good pictures. Good camera, just with a few problems.. or rather bugs..
James
Digital camera Review: Good deal
Summary: 4 Stars
For the price and what you get this is a good deal. It feels good in the hands ( that makes a big difference on an SLR), has a big LCD screen, has a good MP (10 Megapixels doesn't necessarily get you better images and the humbug of dealing with those large files may end up being a disadvantage). It still has issues with low light but has compensation features to deal with it. Get the hi-power NiMeHyd batteries and a charger and 1 GB card. The batteries last a long time and if you set your pictures to an acceptable 4MP you can shoot all day. It's light so you can shoot one-handed if needed.I haven tused many of the features but the ones I have worked well. I'm glad I chose this over the Cannon and Nikon, for all of those reasons mentioned above.